Collateral Damage- My 70 Chevelle site build

[Hydratech®]

Looking good, though a thought came to mind when you swapped your valve cover to accommodate the catch can / breather on the driver's side. What do you have planned for the passenger side of the firewall? I see a lot of smooth wide open real estate there. I do realize you have a down pipe from the turbo that will be running through that side. My thoughts are that from what I am seeing right now (in my possibly limited perspective of your full vision) is a bit of clutter gathering on the driver's side now, with the brake assist unit and master cylinder and catch can all grouped together. Once you also add a wiper motor assembly into that area, it's going to get even more occupied. Might the passenger side of the firewall be a better place to hang the catch can / breather, which will add some symmetry to the engine compartment appearance, then also saving you from having to obtain another valve cover? I believe it would be also easier to drain on the passenger side of the firewall when needed. I always think, rethink, and think again when setting up engine compartments, and like you said, spending some time moving things around to see what and how things may fit best is part of the engineering process.

You are the artiste` and the vehicle is your canvas!

One more further thought if I may? Depending upon how tight your engine mounts will control drivetrain movement, I do also suggest you remove an inch +/- of your solid SS upper radiator hose pipe on each end to allow more rubber hose to take up the flex of chassis / body / engine frame movement. I have made the mistake of running this scenario too tight, not allowing for enough flex and movement, resulting in a stress cracked upper radiator hose inlet. As you know, those types of things always manifest at the worst times, as per Murphy's Law (Chapter 6, section 3).

[camcojb]

Originally Posted by Hydratech®

Looking good, though a thought came to mind when you swapped your valve cover to accommodate the catch can / breather on the driver's side. What do you have planned for the passenger side of the firewall? I see a lot of smooth wide open real estate there. I do realize you have a down pipe from the turbo that will be running through that side. My thoughts are that from what I am seeing right now (in my possibly limited perspective of your full vision) is a bit of clutter gathering on the driver's side now, with the brake assist unit and master cylinder and catch can all grouped together. Once you also add a wiper motor assembly into that area, it's going to get even more occupied. Might the passenger side of the firewall be a better place to hang the catch can / breather, which will add some symmetry to the engine compartment appearance, then also saving you from having to obtain another valve cover? I believe it would be also easier to drain on the passenger side of the firewall when needed. I always think, rethink, and think again when setting up engine compartments, and like you said, spending some time moving things around to see what and how things may fit best is part of the engineering process.

You are the artiste` and the vehicle is your canvas!

One more further thought if I may? Depending upon how tight your engine mounts will control drivetrain movement, I do also suggest you remove an inch +/- of your solid SS upper radiator hose pipe on each end to allow more rubber hose to take up the flex of chassis / body / engine frame movement. I have made the mistake of running this scenario too tight, not allowing for enough flex and movement, resulting in a stress cracked upper radiator hose inlet. As you know, those types of things always manifest at the worst times, as per Murphy's Law (Chapter 6, section 3).

Good thoughts Paul, thanks! Can't move the steering and brake system obviously, and there won't be a wiper motor visible (going a hidden system inside the cowl). With a 4" downpipe off the turbo and the wastegate line intersects at some point that will get a bit more crowded. I was trying to avoid adding anything else to that side if possible. It makes sense to put the catch can over there, but I think it will look good the way I have it. Will surely be easy to change though if I change my mind.

Using urethane engine and body mounts so I think I'll be fine with the flex issues. The rubber radiator hose connections do allow a fair amount of movement.

[214Chevy]

Originally Posted by camcojb

there won't be a wiper motor visible (going a hidden system inside the cowl).

Jody, are you gonna use Raingear for the hidden wiper system?

[camcojb]

Originally Posted by 214Chevy

Jody, are you gonna use Raingear for the hidden wiper system?

Yes, they finally have one for the 70 Chevelles.

[214Chevy]

Originally Posted by camcojb

Yes, they finally have one for the 70 Chevelles.

Good deal!! I have it on my car too and I'm please with the install and the clean, hidden look as well.

[Blown353]

One thing to keep in mind about the raingear wipers... do they offer recessed park?

Most 68-72 Chevelles had recessed park wipers, which hides the wipers under the hood line and down on the stainless cowl trim when they're shut off. When they're running they move up out of the parked position and stay up on the glass until you shut them off, then they drop below the hood line and park on the stainless cowl/windshield trim.

DSE used to offer a recessed park wiper motor option for Chevelles but discontinued it years ago. Haven't seen anything other than a rebuilt original factory motor offer recessed park since then.

If the raingear wipers don't have recessed park, they're going to sit a few inches higher up on the glass even when they're off and won't be hidden below the hoodline compared to a recessed park OE wiper motor.


Something else to consider regarding the catch can and breather setup... with the breather tank now connected at the rear of the valve cover it might want to push a bunch of oil up into the catch can at high RPM / WOT when there will be the most oil in the valve covers and it's going to be pushed to the rear under acceleration, and any blowby is going to try and push it up the hose into the catch can. Gravity is on your side as the hose runs uphill from the valve cover to the catch can, but make sure the hole in the valve cover is baffled very well or you might have a real mess on your hands after a few WOT pulls. Been there, done that, have the bottle of simple green and a hose to clean it up...

[camcojb]

Originally Posted by Blown353

One thing to keep in mind about the raingear wipers... do they offer recessed park?

Most 68-72 Chevelles had recessed park wipers, which hides the wipers under the hood line and down on the stainless cowl trim when they're shut off. When they're running they move up out of the parked position and stay up on the glass until you shut them off, then they drop below the hood line and park on the stainless cowl/windshield trim.

DSE used to offer a recessed park wiper motor option for Chevelles but discontinued it years ago. Haven't seen anything other than a rebuilt original factory motor offer recessed park since then.

If the raingear wipers don't have recessed park, they're going to sit a few inches higher up on the glass even when they're off and won't be hidden below the hoodline compared to a recessed park OE wiper motor.


Something else to consider regarding the catch can and breather setup... with the breather tank now connected at the rear of the valve cover it might want to push a bunch of oil up into the catch can at high RPM / WOT when there will be the most oil in the valve covers and it's going to be pushed to the rear under acceleration, and any blowby is going to try and push it up the hose into the catch can. Gravity is on your side as the hose runs uphill from the valve cover to the catch can, but make sure the hole in the valve cover is baffled very well or you might have a real mess on your hands after a few WOT pulls. Been there, done that, have the bottle of simple green and a hose to clean it up...

Good point on the wipers, sent an email to them and they do not have recessed park. Will have to decide how big a deal for me that is. Have had wiper arms that show on almost all the cars I've had over the years and it never bothered me, but when looking at 70 Chevelles nearly all have the hidden wipers.

Now you've also got me looking at baffled vacuum pump valve cover fittings. Seems like if it was at the front of the valve cover and if it can go in a lower oil flow area it'd be much better.